Strong Signals
First Impressiosn

Electra Tiger Scan TSA
Tiger Scan TSA image

by
Rich Wells, N2MCA

In the early days of the scanning hobby, the scanning receivers that the average Joe could afford consisted of limited range models with only a few channels. The world was smaller, the frequency spectrum not so spread out and times were simpler. Those were the days when you could sit back and relax to the methodical flashing of LEDs which let you know the scanner was doing its job.

The players were different too. Those were the days when names like Electra and Lafayette were well known. Those who know little of scanning history may not even know of the name Electra and all that it did to advance scanner technology. Such days seem so long ago but really aren't.

Fast forward 25 or so years and things couldn't be more different. Receivers are pushing past the 1000 channel limit and widening their frequency range in a bid to outdo each other. Things like computer control, trunked radio tracking, band scopes and discriminators are getting to be common place. And while things just might be getting a little crowded and hectic, there's always room for more.

There has to be because THE Electra Corporation has once again thrown their hat into the ring with a new scanning receiver with a small frequency range, minimal channels and ease of use. Better yet, the days of flashing LEDs are back my friends!

And I can just see the "old salts" who spent many hours listening to their LED flashing radios of the 70s and the twinkle in their eye when they catch a glimpse of the "new" kid in town and the tiger they have turned loose!

What follows are my personal impressions regarding the features and performance of this receiver. This, in no way, should be viewed as an endorsement to purchase this radio nor is it intended to discourage anyone from buying it. I have no personal or business relations with Electra Corporation. These are simply thoughts offered to my fellow hobbyists who may be interested in purchasing this particular radio or learning more about it.

A lot of hard work and effort has gone into the testing and writing of this review. I would appreciate it if every effort is made to keep this document whole with me as the original author. Of course, it doesn't hurt that this document is copyrighted and therefore protected by US law and international treaties governing intellectual property. Except for personal use, and for the sake of brief passages quoted in reviews and given appropriate credit, no part of this work may be reproduced in any forms or by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without prior written permission of the author.

Thank you and enjoy!

Rich Wells
N2MCA
Strong Signals web site

This document contains the following sections:
  • What You Get
  • Model Tested
  • Basic Specs
  • Instruction Sheet
  • Construction and Physical
  • Pictures
  • Features
  • Memory
  • Scanning
  • VHF Performance
  • Things I Like
  • Things I Would Change
  • Summary
  • Comments
    • What You Get
  • Tiger Scan TSA
  • Instruction Sheet
    • Model Tested
  • Serial # : 0200xx
  • Made in USA
  • Price: $59.95 + S/H
    • Basic Specs
    Channels 2
    Scan Banks 2
    Search Bands 0
    Coverage 140 - 170 MHz
    Scan 6 chan/sec
    Search N/A
    Steps N/A
    Modes FM
    Sensitivity < 1 µV typical @ 12 dB quieting
    Conversion Double
    Priority 0 channels
    Search skip N/A
    Auto-Store No
    S-meter No
    Delay No
    Lockout No
    Attenuator No
    Lock No
    Tone codes No
    Computer intf No
    Rotary control No
    Channel count No
    Data skip No
    Clock No
    Timers None
    Weather Yes
    Weather Alert No
    Light None
    Power 9 volt DC
    Audio 500 mW RMS
    Size 2.6" (W) x 4.9" (H) x 0.9" (D)
    Weight 4 oz w/o battery
    Memory non-volatile?
    Instruction Sheet
  • The receiver comes with a single instruction sheet
  • The front side contains a nicely detailed set of specifications with the company address, phone #, fax # and web site listed at the bottom
  • The back side contains details on how to go about finding frequencies which is followed by the instructions on how to program the radio
    • Construction and Physical
  • The unit is fairly compact; about the size of the IC-R10
  • It is cast entirely in black plastic and feels quite solid
  • There are basically two shells which form the front and back with a small top panel housing all the controls
  • The front panel consists of what appears to be a metal "sticker"
  • At the top of this sticker are the labels for the top panel controls
  • Just underneath is a trapezoidal grid of speaker holes
  • Below this are the Tiger Scan moniker, Tiger Paw logo and Electra name and logo
  • Note: If you requested an early unit, these came without the tiger paw printed on the front panel
  • Looking at the top panel, from left to right we have the 1/8" headphone jack, power button, volume button, channel select/program button, 2 scanning status LEDs and antenna
  • The antenna is a short, stiff, helical wound wire covered in black urethane(?) coating and topped with a red, plastic cap
  • The antenna is about 2.6" tall and does not extend much below the top panel itself
  • The back panel contains the ID sticker and battery compartment cover
  • The ID sticker lists the typical model number, serial number and FCC ID. Also listed are basic programming instructions as well as the Electra phone #, address and web site
  • The bottom panel is rounded not only from front to back, but also from side to side, which means there is no way for this receiver to stand vertically on its own!
    • Pictures
  • Top panel
    • Features
  • The power button is a simple on/off press
  • On power up, the receiver automatically enters weather channel scanning mode, trying to find activity on one of the preprogrammed NOAA weather frequencies
  • The power up volume setting is a bit too loud for my liking and unfortunately it can not be adjusted nor does it remember the setting between uses
  • To adjust the volume, the volume button is pressed and held, and it alternates between presses as to whether it raises or lowers the volume accordingly
  • Audio quality is quite nice from the well sized speaker
  • Audio power is plentiful and can be turned up nearly all the way until the annoying buzzes and distortion start
  • The squelch tail is fairly short
  • The battery compartment holds one 9 volt battery which I found rather surprising (NOTE: Electra says they did not go with AAs due to the noise associated with having to use step-up voltage circuitry. While the next few products will use 9 volts, they will consider the use of AAs in future models)
  • Once the battery reaches a predetermined low voltage level, it emits a "double beep approximately every 5 minutes"
  • Also, there is no supplied belt clip but it would be simply to attach one of the many stick-on variety (NOTE: Electra says they are still deciding about belt clips in future radios and for now, are working on offering a case with a built-in belt clip which will also allow the radio to stand on its own; price: $19.95)
  • The top panel LEDs are VERY bright and some have already mentioned this on the Internet and to Electra who says they will adjust the level in future productions/models
  • NOTE: Electra says that "at present a UHF design on the 'drawing board', and we anticipate if all goes well, having radios ready to sell by Christmas. Specs are a deep dark secret at present, but more channels/features are a good bet. Another product looms on the horizon - but a tad nebulous at the moment."
    • Memory
  • Memory consists of two individual channels which can be scanned individually or together so I guess you would call this a 2 bank scanner with 1 channel/bank!
  • Programming is simple once you get the hang of it and can key in the digits quickly enough to avoid the abort action which occurs if too much time is taken between entries
  • First, one of the two channels is chosen using the channel button
  • The channel button is then held down to put the radio into programming mode
  • Digits of the desired frequency are then keyed in one at a time by pressing the channel button, each being accompanied by a beep
  • Once all the digits are keyed in, the radio will beep back the digits to you in sequence to verify proper programming
    • Scanning
  • Available modes include weather and channel scanning
  • As mentioned earlied, the unit goes into weather scanning mode on power up which is indicated by the synchronous flashing of both LEDs
  • The channel button is then used toggle over into channel scanning mode
  • In this mode, either one of the 2 channels can be monitored individually or you can scan them simultaneously
  • Single channel monitoring results in a flashing of the appropriate LED while 2 channel scanning results in the alternate flashing of the 2 LEDs
    • VHF Performance
  • Performance was quite good on the few frequencies I tried
  • Keep in mind that this is a double conversion receiver while the antenna is only 2.6" high
    • Things I Like
  • Size
  • Construction
  • Audio quality and power
  • Sensitivity
    • Things I Would Change
  • Belt clip
  • Flat base for vertical standing
  • Use of AA batteries
  • Lower the power up volume level
  • Add power on resume (volume and scanning mode)
  • BNC antenna connector
    • Summary
  • A great little product which fills an empty niche and should do well for Electra
  • Compact size, great audio, sensitivity and ease of use make for a winning combination
  • Trying to keep up with orders as well as selling out quickly at the Dayton Hamvention are further clues to being on the right track
  • I can't wait to see what the Electra future holds!
    • Comments From Dave Lovell, W9DAG
    Product TSA is our rollout concept product - it's design hinged on three features; compactness, simplicity, and cost. We believe we'll have good success in doing the basics well, giving scanner users another option rather than the typical Column "R" or Column "U" choices.

    Initial demand is good, and bodes well for the company. If all goes well, look forward to seeing future products that have a certain 'uniqueness' to them, which will make Electra products desirable in comparison.

    We plan for Electra to be a long term player in this industry, one which we helped to create, and in which we have a fair amount of experience. We look forward to accomodating all customer needs as time/energy/resources permit.

    Thanks again to everyone trying out our new product - we hope you'll enjoy using Tiger Scan as much as we did making it!

    "Happy Scanning"!

    Sincerely,
    Dave Lovell, W9DAG
    RF Eng./President
    Electra Corporation
    1-317-894-3229
    info@electracorp.com
    http://www.electracorp.com/

    May 22, 1999
    Copyright © 2010 by Richard J. Wells Return to Home Page